Supporting Frontline Workers Delivering Services in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings

This research briefing identifies how frontline workers delivering health, education, and social protection services in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCAS) can be better supported. It synthesises evidence from six major research programmes that undertook studies across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The briefing's core message is that resilient services depend on resilient frontline workforces, and that support for these workers during fragility and conflict must go beyond short-term incentives or fragmented projects. The review's conclusion is that policymakers, donors, and practitioners need to take a more systemic, long-term and gender-transformative approach to supporting frontline workers if they want service delivery systems in FCAS to endure and strengthen more ambitious accountability and stability goals. SORDI contributes as a research partner to EQUAL's Somalia research programme, alongside the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and findings drawn from this Somalia-based research — including midwifery workforce and maternal and newborn health research — feature throughout the review.